Assessment of Rutin's Anti-Metastatic Potential: Targeting the CXCL8/CXCR2 Chemokine Signaling Pathway in Oral Cancer Cell Line

Rutin is a flavonoid compound that is naturally found in many plant-based foods such as citrus fruits, buckwheat, and apples. It has been studied for its potential anti-cancer effects. The aim of the study is to investigate the anti-cancer effect of Rutin by targeting the CXCL-8/CXCR2 signaling pathway in oral cancer cells. To evaluate the cytotoxic potential of Rutin we have performed an MTT assay. A phase contrast microscope is used to evaluate changes in cell morphology. A scratch wound healing assay was performed to evaluate anti-migrative potential of rutin. Gene expression analysis was performed using quantitative real-time PCR to determine the levels of CXCL-8/CXCR2 signalling molecules. In our study, the exposure of oral cancer cells to rutin led to a notable decrease in cell viability, with a statistically significant difference observed (p < 0.05) between the control and treatment groups. The inhibitory concentration (IC-50) was determined to be 80 μg/ml for oral cancer cells. Post-treatment, a reduced number of cells were observed, exhibiting shrinkage and cytoplasmic membrane blebbing. The investigation indicated a significant downregulation of CXCL-8/CXCR2 mRNA expression following rutin treatment. Additionally, the migration of cells was significantly reduced compared to control cells. The results demonstrated that the Rutin was cytotoxic and inhibited cell migration by targeting the CXCL-8/CXCR2 signaling molecules gene expression in oral cancer cells. However, more research is needed to understand the mechanisms of the anti-cancer potential of this Rutin, by targeting the CXCL-8/CXCR2 signaling pathway might help to treat cancer.